Chapter 17
• Truths Revealed •
"No!!!" Harry yelled just outside the Hufflepuff common room.
Immediately he quieted, Virginia and Cedric were just inside helping the other Hufflepuffs who had been hurt because of Mrs. Norris. Harry could here them even now, Virginia was scolding Cedric for not knowing how to do something. Had it been some other time Harry might've laughed.
"Remus, please don't do that."
The glint in Remus' eye said more than he could say out loud. Remus planned on getting into that room now that he knew Sirius was in there. There was no way anyone or anything would be able to stop him. If he did open it up he would ruin it all and Sirius might get hurt. Harry sighed, it didn't matter now with or without Harry he would get in. "Alright, I'll take you and you alone. You don't tell anyone else and you go now. Alright?" It was best to get him to go now when he wasn't fully prepared.
Remus nodded. "Agreed."
With a slow pace Harry started forward. He nearly cried, thinking about what would happen to Sirius. But he wouldn't let himself, there was still time, still things that could go right or wrong. He needed to prepare himself. So silently he contemplate what might happen.
"Don't try anything." Remus growled, the hallway echoing the words faintly. "I know what you're thinking about and it won't work so there is not point of thinking it." Harry's shoulders dropped and he winced. He should have known better, he was being far too obvious about it.
"He didn't do it Remus, it was Peter." It was a stupid thing to say, it would only anger him more, but it was the only thing he could say.
For a moment Harry thought perhaps it had worked. "That's for me to determine." Remus growled again and Harry's hopes died again.
Harry pushed again, this was his only chance to get it out. Remus was with him and would stay with him for the next few minutes. No matter how much he tried to ignore he would still hear. "You won't be able to, you can't control yourself when you're around him, I know, I remember."
Harry thought back, he could remember things very well, it was what he prided himself in. "I apparated for the first time. That's how you found out where we were. Sirius didn't know about it then and so he was caught completely by surprise when you came in. He wand was lying on the other side of the room and he didn't have time to get to it that's why you were able to capture him. You petrified him and after you were done another man, you called him Job, dragged Sirius into the other room so I couldn't see him. Someone else stunned me when I tried to get to Sirius but it didn't work well. When everyone was gone I used a wand and I stunned the person who was guarding me."
Harry cringed, waiting for an attack to come when he paused. Remus seemed to be listening for the first time so Harry hurried to continue for the few moments he had his attention. "Sirius was only half conscious and caged, that's why no one was standing guard. I couldn't get to him so I just made the cage go away and then de-petrified him. I gave him the wands and we snuck out before anyone could stop us." Harry stopped once more to breathe again, he had said it fast trying to get it all out, here would come the part that would get the best or worst reception from Remus.
"I saw what you did to him Remus. He was barely conscious when I first came in. That was why no one was guarding him. He didn't fight, you just hurt him. The whole in the wall, the cuts that were all over him... You broke his left arm in two places and he had to wait until the next day to fix them. He still has the scars to prove it. You did that to him when he wasn't able to defend himself. What would you do if he tried to fight back Remus? You can't control your temper around him can you?" Harry said fiercely, he wanted what he said to go deep, not be something Remus could just ignore.
Harry turned around and found Remus had stopped and was staring at him, bewildered. "You couldn't have possibly done that. I caged him with an unbreakable charm and how could a child have stunned one of us, you were only six."
"Five, I was still five. I was doing magic when I was five Remus. Sirius didn't show me either, I taught myself. I could do a lot of things by then. I didn't break the cage with any magic though, I just told it to go away and it did. Remus... Sirius didn't want me to learn magic, when I rescued him it surprised him as much as it surprised you now. At first he even wanted to stay and try to convince you of the truth but I told him he couldn't." Hope returned and Harry believed his words might have had just the right effect.
"You couldn't have possibly don't those things, any of them. No..."
Harry stared right into his eyes. "You can tell if I'm lying."
"No." Remus shook his head, trying to make something go away that was gnawing at him. "No... no, no, no..." His eyes shut and he took a deep breath. "It had to be him, he was the only one who knew everything. He helped them prepare for the spell. They told Dumbledore he was the secret keeper. He was the one that told them not to trust me."
"Sirius did it because he was afraid he would give them up. He was afraid for himself as much as he was afraid for them. He thought if it was changed to someone else then if he died people would give up looking for my parents."
"...but he would've told Dumbledore."
"Why? No one else needed to know. If someone had to know in the future, even Dumbledore, Sirius could direct them to Peter. The less people who knew in the long run the less likely someone would find out. None of you told him about your animagus abilities, you still haven't. You've never told Dumbledore about those nights that you snuck out did you? Sirius wanted James and Lilly as safe as possible. They all made the decision not to tell anyone, I'm not lying I've seen it."
At the last moment Remus shook his head again. "Take me to him now." He demanded.
Harry could see that he had not won, that the brief moment Remus had let his guard down was not long enough. The tone he had used and the flicker in his eyes made Harry wary. He did not dare anger Remus more. Sirius had once told him about angering a werewolf, citing an example of when he had under the influence of a potion. Sirius had ended the story by showing Harry a faint scar that ran from under his arm clear down to his knee. He claimed during the whole time the fight lasted he had only got a single swing in.
Harry saw every warning sign Sirius had told him about: the tensing in his shoulders, the narrowing of his eyes, the tiny shudders that passed through him. There were more, some not so obvious, but they were there. So Harry began his grueling walk towards the mirror again.
"It's only your fault! You brought him here!" The shadow in the mirror yelled, not worrying who else might hear. "You betrayed him, you betrayed me." Harry's mind reeled from the accusation and he immediately turned to run, to get as far away as possible. He did feel ashamed, he did feel as if he had betrayed them even though he had no other options. Before he could take a second step he was lifted several feet off of the ground. "Do not try that again." Remus said angrily.
"Remus! Put him down!" Birdie came from down the hall, neither Harry nor Remus had noticed her until she had spoken. "Look at you, you're going to hurt him. Drop him now."
Remus slowly lowered him and at the same time Harry felt his head fill with blood again. Once Harry's feet were on the ground he tried to move away but Remus' grip just tightened. "Don't you dare run." He whispered, too softly for a normal person to hear. He obviously had discovered Harry had animagus abilities.
"Remus what are you doing? Why did you leave the scene? You're ignoring the rules and you're going to get into a lot of trouble."
"I'm not an Auror! I'll never be one. Just because I have a single assignment doesn't mean I'll ever be able to do anything else. Don't you dare lecture me on rules that don't apply to me." Remus bellowed. He wasn't acting normal at all, even for a person with lycanthropy. "I am going to kill Sirius Black if it's the last thing I do!"
At that moment Harry knew something was wrong with Remus. He would never kill Sirius, he might want him to be judged and sent to Azkaban or even get the Dementors kiss, but he would never kill him himself. Slowly things formed in Harry's mind, the pure rage that he had never experienced, the slow increase of aggression towards Sirius as the years had passed. His sole dedication to capturing Sirius.
Birdie didn't see it right away, she was confused and angry as well. "You'll go to Azkaban! The Minister of Magic said he wanted Sirius Black to come to him alive, at nearly all cost short of death. The penalty for killing him is Azkaban, you know that."
The grip on Harry didn't loosen at all but Harry felt better. Someone was fighting for Sirius, someone had influenced the Minister. "Remus if you kill Black you'll be no better that a Death Eater. That's all you'll be." Her accusation was enough for Remus to loose his tightened grip and Harry wriggled himself free. He stepped behind Birdie, nursing his shoulder while staying out of reach. Beyond Remus Harry saw that the Padfoot had disappeared from the mirror, hopefully to warn Sirius.
Remus was torn, he seemed to be fighting himself in his mind. Birdie took a step forward, speaking softly. "Just calm down Remus, everything will be alright." She took another step, getting away from Harry. "Talk to me Remus."
When she took her third step Harry determined that it was best to warn her. "Birdie he's angry. You may not want to do that."
"It's alright."
"No, it's not. It's not just that he's angry, you don't understand. He'll do things..."
"I already know, I figured it out now long after I met you. She smiled, removing his hand from her cloak. "I'm ready for what might happen, don't worry. Go on down the hall a bit, I want to talk to him alone."
Still she continued forward. Harry stepped away, he would have to go further than he would allow if she really wanted privacy, but she didn't know that. Sirius was only on the other side of the wall. If Remus did decide to try and get to Sirius again the wall wouldn't stop him, Harry would be the only thing that might stand in the way. He heard their voices carry down the hall but he chose to ignore them.
The shrill scream did catch Harry's attention and he looked up. Birdie was pinned against the wall, Remus holding her by the throat and in his other hand holding her wand. Harry pulled his own wand out and ran as quickly as possible towards her. Before he reached her something happened. Remus dropped her again, and then dropped to his knees, clutching his head. Whatever the potion or hex that had been used on him still hadn't taken him completely, he was fighting it.
For several long moments Birdie and Harry watched Remus until he finally fell to the floor. "What did you do to him Birdie?" Harry asked, wondering out loud.
"I... I didn't do anything. I told him I loved him and he grabbed me. Then he just..."
"Fainted dead away. Do we know why though, are you sure he didn't say anything else?"
Birdie got down on her knees and looked up at Harry before she examined Remus. "Sorry. He said he was sorry before he grabbed me. It was almost like he couldn't help it."
Harry looked at Remus and then to the mirror. "Birdie, Madam Pomfrey should be in, she'll be able to help him. Take him there, I'll come in just a minute." Birdie accepted his instructions and Harry watched as she rushed down the hall with Remus levitating in front of her.
•
"Sirius! Padfoot!" Harry kicked the mirror. "Padfoot I have to get in right now. Remus is gone. Damnit let me in." Harry kicked it again for about the eleventh time. Remus was sick, something was causing it, something unnatural. It had to be the reason he was so single minded about Sirius, why he chased him so relentlessly. Harry leaned against the wall and slowly knocked his head against the mirror, the hate he had once had for Remus crumbling away. He had never told Sirius about it but he hated Remus for making them move so often when he was younger, he hated Remus because he wouldn't believe Sirius.
The mirror gave way and Harry knew he had ported through to the other side. He was leaning to far forward though and he found himself falling forward. After picking himself up he found Sirius was standing next to the mirror grinning. "Can't you be serious for even a minute? Don't you realize how close you are to being captured?"
Sirius shook his head. "Not anymore. I was the reason Remus fainted. I wanted to see if a certain spell had been cast on him and it has. I know why Remus is trying to kill me, I can prove it."
"No, you can't, you'd get caught before you made it to Remus. There are bound to be dozens of Aurors after what happened with the other Aurors and Mrs. Norris. Remus being unconscious for some unknown reason wont help either."
The grin that spread across Sirius' face said too much. "That's why you're going to cast another spell on him. I know the spell because I was the one that found it. The only people that no the spell were Moony, James, Peter and I. It was in a hand-printed book we found in the library and after we figured out what it was we made sure it was put away in the safest place possible. When Peter cast that spell he was signing his life away to getting rid of me. All you have to do is perform a short ritual and a spell and Remus will know the truth. After that it's only a matter of time."
What Sirius was saying sounded completely absurd but it was a chance and Sirius believed it so Harry did to. "Alright, what do I do?"
"You have to go quickly, the spell I performed is part of the ritual and it can only be done once..." Sirius set about explaining how to complete the ritual.
•
"I have to talk to him Birdie, now."
Her only response was to shake her head. "They already sealed off the room. I can't get in, they won't let anyone in."
For a moment Harry closed his eyes trying to come up with a way to get himself into the room. When he opened his eyes again he was staring at Dumbledore who had somehow appeared in the far corner of the room.
"There is always a way Ms. Wiggin. Don't ever doubt that." Dumbledore smiled brightly. "Tell me Harry, what is it that you must do so quickly?"
Birdie was as surprised as Harry was that Dumbledore was there. "A spell. Remus is under a curse that took peters hate for Sirius and multiplied it. That's what we think anyway. Sirius is sure of it. He sent me here to finish a ritual that will help Remus know the truth."
"I know the spell. It's in a book in my private library." He paused for thought. "Yes, it was James who brought it to me. I do not know how such a book came to be in the Hogwarts Library but it is a good thing that it was brought to me when it was discovered." Dumbledore smiled. "The spell is a double edged sword, it is quite effective but can be devastating to the caster should someone become aware of what's happening and put a stop to it. I will be back momentarily." He added to the end and then disappeared again.
Neither Harry nor Birdie could tell it was he had done, he hadn't apparated. "I don't understand, there are barriers that shouldn't allow such things to happen here, he can't just disappear like that."
"There are ways around it. Sirius told me a few but it's usually easier to just walk most of the time. If my dad and Sirius could figure ways out I'm sure Dumbledore knows more of them. I wonder how long..."
The last few words were not needed. The door to the infirmary opened and Dumbledore walked through, smiling brighter than before. "So many things have happened today. It is a good day to live." He looked over at Birdie. "I trust you've chosen sides then?"
Birdie clutched her pendant and then a moment later nodded. "You were right how nefarious things have become."
Nothing else was said but Dumbledore understood completely what she had meant. Harry made a note to find out what she meant by that, he had his suspicions but right now that was not his focus.
"Now wait for a few moments, I must prepare the spell." Dumbledore's hands came to life and his wand jumped into the air, moving around quickly. He took a deep breathe a said the spell, "Pigrum Tempor" and he swirled his wand. Nothing came from it but as it finished its loop everything seemed to grow hazy and there was a stillness that was so unlife like it was chilling. Dumbledore had disappeared yet again. Harry looked around but there was no movement.
Then it changed, the haze that seemed to be over everything went away. Harry felt as if you had just fallen from the astronomy tower. It didn't hurt, it just was a sudden wrenching feeling. Dumbledore was walking away from him when Harry opened his eyes. Just beyond him, miraculously lying on the bed, was Remus.
"Perform the spell now, it's difficult for me to hold this spell for much longer with this many people. I want to return him so that they don't know what has happened. Hurry now."
It was absurd, Harry was expected to perform the spell the first time and get it perfect. He may be good but he did not believe he was that good. Sirius hadn't even showed him and he had explained it well, but still kept it vague at points. Harry thought perhaps he had never actually done it and therefore didn't know exactly what had happened.
"I'll try."
Dumbledore didn't seem to like his half-ass attitude. "No, you'll do it." He said softly.
In the few moments he approached Remus Harry went over the steps a dozen times, questioning himself, wondering if he would be able to do it without even seeing it done right. He situated himself properly and raised his wand. He followed the ritual exactly and then performed the spell. It took less than a minute but it seemed to be much longer. Remus' eyes fluttered but they stopped again, his body became still.
"I will be back in a moment."
The world became hazy again, and everything became darker as if it had all fallen into shadows. Remus disappeared, but Harry saw it happen even if for only a moment. His body seemed to stretch in an instant from his bed to the other side of the room and then he disappeared altogether when Harry blinked.
Around him Harry noticed the temperature had dropped dramatically and the air tasted stale when he took a deep breath. He turned to Birdie to see what she thought of what was happening but she did not move at all. Harry stared at her, unblinking and noticed that she did move, ever so slowly. Her hand was reaching for her wand but it was barely noticeable. Harry reached over and plucked it out of her holster and then moved to the side of the room, near the window. Outside everything seemed normal, some first years were dashing about on broomsticks while Madam Hooch yelled at them.
As he turned back things blurred and then returned to normal. Birdie's hand swished as the air moved around it. Aurors were trained to go for there wands fast, very fast. "Where did??? Harry... My wand... Harry! Harry?"
She finally asked puzzled. She was staring at him now from across the room. "How did you get over..."
"Quiet Ms. Wiggin. We need to be discreet at this moment. Please leave the room, I will take care of the minor details. I'll be returning to my office shortly. Remus is fine now, don't fret."
Harry was outside the room before he decided to turn around. He needed to know something, right away. Birdie caught him however. "He knows what he's doing. If you want to speak with him he said he'll be in his office."
Everything that had happened seemed to have gone right, but Harry still didn't feel good. He hoped the spell had worked. Harry handed Birdie her wand and then walked down the hall. He would go to Dumbledore's office, but he planned on talking to Sirius first.
"You didn't know did you? You'd never actually performed the spell."
Sirius looked at Harry glumly. "Then it didn't work?"
For a brief moment Harry wanted to tease Sirius about it, give him a hard time just like he had always done. The moment passed and Harry shook his head. "I don't know. I think it did. Dumbledore snuck him out of the office using some sort of time spell. I performed the spell and then he put him back. I don't know exactly what else happened, he told me to leave. Now that we have time explain to me exactly what the spell did."
"It released him from the single thought. He'll know what happened to, I do hope he doesn't hurt Peter, we'll need him to help make sure I get a free and clear of all of the allegations. Remus will be able to remember things that only Peter would know, thoughts and feelings, even memories. It will only be the ones that relate to me at first, but he'll remember more. I don't really want to do this to him but it was the only way he could be released."
That was why Dumbledore was so secretive, why he didn't want them to know he had taken Peter. "He'll remember other things, like plans on Voldemort's or places and people?"
Sirius nodded, surprised. "You're not suggesting..."
"No. I think Dumbledore wants to do that though. He didn't want anyone to know that the spell had happened. Birdie doesn't even know exactly what it is that happened, he just told her Remus would be ok. I'm going there now, I'm going to talk to him, do you want me to bring anything the next time I come?"
Of course he did. "Food, and some of the latest news, I want to know what's happening."
Harry hurried down the hallway, avoiding most of the Aurors by taking the tunnels through the walls or ducking around a corner. There were dozens, swarming the castle. He was stopped several times even after he tried to avoid them as best as possible. Most of them ignored him, and those who didn't he told he was going to Dumbledore's office to talk to him.
The password was still the same as it had been when Virginia had been sorted and so Harry made his way up the stairs and knocked on Dumbledore's office, just to see if perhaps he had made it already. Dumbledore didn't answer but Virginia did. "Is he alright?" She asked before the door had opened all the way. "I told Dumbledore that there might be some trouble and he left."
Before he answered her he came in and found a seat. "Yes. Remus has been under the influence of a spell, we just figured it out. I think I dissolved it, but I don't know. I'll have to wait for Dumbledore before I know for sure. What about Mrs. Norris and the Hufflepuffs?"
"The Aurors took over. They sent me here to talk to Dumbledore, they said they'd talk to me about what happened once everything was taken care of. What do you think they'll do to Mrs. Norris?"
Harry shrugged. "Wait until she returns to normal. Once we explain what happened they might cure her themselves."
"We're going to get into trouble aren't we?"
Of that Harry was sure. He was distracted but he was also trying to figure out how to get everyone else out of trouble. It was his fault anyway. "Yes, but that doesn't mean we all do. I can tell them I did it all myself."
"No, you and I did it. Hermione was just trying to be nice to Mrs. Norris when it happened. Neville, Ron and Blaise were just with me at the time. They didn't know anything about it. You had finished the potion and had to take a break for a minute, that's why you weren't hurt as badly."
The plan was remarkable similar to what he would have thought up had he intended to take the blame with Virginia. "You've been thinking on this haven't you?"
She nodded. "It's the easiest way to keep them out of trouble, and it really was our fault. I thought Hermione was wrong and I should have said something, but I didn't. I don't mind getting in trouble as long as it doesn't get us expelled." They both stopped at the same time. Someone was coming up the stairs, they had both heard the door open up. Hopefully it was Dumbledore.
Remus was the person that came in the door first. He looked different, the paleness and darkness seemed to have disappeared, he didn't look like the same person, he was even a little cheerful. "Hello Harry."
Virginia was staring at him, amazed. Harry was curious if Remus knew now or if it would still take a little while. "You're feeling better Remus?"
He nodded, a little confused now. "I remember what happened to me, I remember almost everything. But now that it's gone it's almost like something missing."
"An unfortunate side effect of the spell, one of many. The spell was far too harsh on both people involved, that's why it's not used at all. You'll have to take a few days to get used to being your normal self. Most of what happened will return as well, the last bits of information you can't remember may not return though."
Birdie's confession, He didn't remember it now, Harry wondered what she would do when she found out he didn't know. Would she confess again? Remus was different now, would she be able to do it again? He had lost the last bits of his memory, so that would mean he didn't know where Sirius was either, or remember hurting Harry.
"You have Harry to thank for relieving you of the burden. He performed it quite well, and on the first time." Dumbledore smiled happily. "Even though he was concerned that he couldn't do it."
Everyone finally got situated and then someone else came. When the finally reached the top of the stairs they knocked lightly and opened the door. "Albus, it's come to my understanding that Ginny..." Professor McGonagall started to say before she noticed everyone that was in the room. "Well, you seem to have things in order." She said as she looked between Ginny and Harry.
"Yes Minerva, do join us. We shall come up with the proper punishment together. First I'd like to hear them explain themselves. Harry in particular, he's just barely gotten out of the infirmary and he's at it again."
To tell them the truth about why wasn't hard. "I was locked in that room for 4 weeks, what did you expect. I needed to do something fun when I got out. In theory it was better than turning the Slytherin food to maggots wasn't it? All we wanted to do was make Mrs. Norris pester the Auror, right Virginia?"
"Right. Harry accidentally made a mistake when he was making the potion and switched the order of two of the ingredients. Neither of us realized it until too late. No one was seriously injured were they?"
"No. No one was injured beyond what can be fixed. Mostly bruises and scratches. It wasn't a good idea to do this though. You should have known that such things would only bring trouble. I'm surprised at you Harry." McGonagall said. "I believe suspension is in order, 2 full weekends."
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Not this coming weekend, Ms. Weasley needs to get her wand, she has been borrowing a wand and I promised her a trip to Diagon Alley. So, the punishment for your actions is two weekends of detention, you both will find out where and when after I have arranged it."
McGonagall nodded her head and then dismissed herself immediately.
"Now as for Remus I'll keep track of him and let you know if anything happens. Virginia, you can bring Harry along when we get your wand, if you'd like. I've already made arrangements." Virginia smiled and nodded. "Now if there is nothing else I would like to get some rest tonight, having a giant cat running rampart through the school is very eventful, I'm afraid I've worn myself out."
Together Virginia and Harry started to leave, Dumbledore had one more thing to say though. "Oh, and Harry, do tell him to be more careful now."
Of course Harry knew who 'he' was. He planned on it. Maybe Dumbledore knew about the secret room. He seemed to know that Sirius was still in the castle, and the only person who knew who might tell was Remus, but Remus couldn't remember.
•
"Do you think I'll get anything special?" Virginia asked as the walked down the street of Diagon Alley. She, Harry and Ender were walking down the streets of Diagon Alley.
Ender smiled from ahead, Harry could just see it from the side. "Every wand is special Ginny, every wand..."
Harry remembered Hermione's, that wand had been special. He knew his was powerful and special to, but why he didn't want to think about. "I think it doesn't matter about the wand, you've used mine and can do things just as easy as I can."
Virginia nodded as they entered the shop. Harry waited for the old man to appear out of nowhere, as he had before. This time he was surprised when the man rustled about before appearing. He looked between the three people and then his eyes fell to Harry's wand. "Back again Mr. White?"
Harry felt foolish, of course he should have hidden his wand, the man would know his wand anywhere. "It's Harry."
"Ah yes. I had figured that out, quite a good disguise before, I was taken by surprise when you took that wand." He motioned to the wand Harry had in his belt. "You've been keeping it up I hope?"
This time Harry nodded. He knew proper care for a wand, it was one of the very first things Sirius had taught him. "If you don't take care of it, it might not be to its full power when you need it most" Sirius had said.
"I take it the young girl is looking for a wand?" Mr. Ollivander asked.
Ender motioned for Mr. Ollivander and they spoke to the side for a moment, Mr. Ollivanders eyes lit up. Harry couldn't hear anything, there must have been a sound dampening charm on the building, or Ender was being very careful. Finally Ender finished and Mr. Ollivander returned to his spot in front of Virginia. "Take a seat young lady, I'll be right back. Oh, and did you happen to bring that wand you've been using?" She shook her head. Mr. Ollivander turned away, glumly.
Harry spoke up. "It was my mothers wand, do you know what that was?"
He returned with three boxes under his arm and the measuring instrument in his hand. "Yes, I think I have an idea, but I'll measure you first." He started measurements. "You're the youngest Weasley girl aren't you?"
"Yes. My names Ginny." Virginia said rather uncomfortable, she didn't seem to like the old man.
The measuring tape finished and Mr. Ollivander nodded. "Yes, good, good..." he mumbled to himself.
"Your wand arm?"
"Right."
And you've been using Lilly's wand. "Willow, yes. Ten and a quarter inches, Griffin feather. She was quite a fiery person, even at your age."
Carefully he put pulled the first wand from the box. "Here, try this one," he said, offering her the wand. "Not all that unusual, and not too much different from the wand you've been using. Eight inches, willow, a different core."
Virginia stood there holding the wand, she waved it about and nothing happened. Mr. Ollivander replaced it with the second wand he had unboxed. "Twelve and three quarter inches, oak, whippy, a single Phoenix feather."
Virginia waved it but nothing happened again. Mr. Ollivander replaced it with the third and again nothing happened. He shook his head and wandered to the back again. "Playing with wands before you have your own... serious effect that can have. But then he has a very odd wand..." he mumbled to himself. Harry didn't hear the rest. Mr. Ollivander returned with 4 more boxes, most were rather dusty and when he blew them off Harry sneezed.
"Here, I think this one will like you." He offered Virginia the wand, it was completely black. "Ebony, black ebony. Has braided black unicorn hairs for a core, a set my grandfather picked up when he was young. Never had many of them. Very subtle wand, and flexible. I think she'll like you."
Virginia waved it and the room sparkled with a dazzling fireworks show. Harry saw Mr. Ollivander nod at Ender who smiled. "Yes, yes, goody. I had hoped it would work." Harry pulled out some gold from his pocket and offered it to Ollivander who smiled and took it.
"What was all that about Ender, why did you whisper to him before he looked for a wand?" Harry asked once they were outside the wand shop.
Ender just shook his head. "Told him she'd been using another wand. Dumbledore asked me to tell him some thing not related to you too." Then he turned away and changed the subject immediately. "Ice cream anyone? There's a new restaurant here, I hear it serves the best ice cream in England, I've wanted to try it." Harry was disappointed Ender wouldn't tell them what it was he had whispered, somehow it had had to do with Mr. Ollivanders decisions on the wand.
They came to the new shop, The Hungry Harpy. Ender ordered them some ice cream, got them a table, then excused himself with a warning for the two to stay in the restaurant until he returned. After eating his fill Harry felt less resolute about asking Ender again, deciding he would figure it out himself. "Do you think I've been damaged for using another wand too much?" Virginia asked, as she poked at her ice cream, eating little bits of it. "You hear him say it too."
Of course he had heard it. "I don't think you're damaged, the wand you have seems to like you. What do you think he meant when he said 'he has a very odd wand' anyway, was he talking about me?"
"Don't know, maybe. I have a wand now though, you can have yours back when we're back at Hogwarts. Do you think Ender'll let us stop and get some presents before we leave? I have a couple galleons that I won off of my brothers."
"Yeah, he'll let us, he's probably one of the only teachers that would. What do you suppose he's doing anyway?"
"Running errands for Dumbledore." Virginia said. "He had a list of things to do in his pocket. He dropped it earlier and I got a good look at it. He had to pick up some special ingredient for a potion, things Snape wouldn't even have."
When she said Snape Harry was reminded of her first encounter with him. "Why does Snape not dislike you? He hates all Gryffindors, you're the first person I knew of that he didn't hate."
"I met him once, a long time ago. I was only five or six at the time and father was out working. Mum had gone into town and everyone was out playing Quidditch. He showed up at our house, wounded horribly, and trying to hide. I helped him hide and when some people showed up I told them I hadn't seen anyone."
"You let Snape in your house and then lied to a group of people who were chasing him?"
Virginia nodded. "They said they were Aurors but one of them had an ugly tattoo on his arm and I didn't like them. I didn't really think about it I just told them that I hadn't seen him and the kept going. Dad came home right after and helped Snape get fixed up. I never really saw him after that, but I remembered what his name was."
"So you saved Snape's life, it's no wonder he lets you get away with slapping Malfoy."
"He's not a bad person, he just has a hard time with other people. I talked to him before dad got home, and he was really nice. I helped him clean his wounds cause he didn't have a wand."
Seeing Snape laid out, all beat up was something Harry might've wanted to see 'til just now, but then he wouldn't have wanted most people to live through such a thing either.
• Edited 2004.09.18 •